Altus Incorporated
August 21, 1888. The population at that time
was about 500; Dr. S. D. Price was the Mayor.
Its name was derived from a Latin word
meaning high, Its location was the highest
point on the Little Rock & Fort Smith
railroad which later became the Missouri
Pacific railroad. The first passenger train
went through Altus in 1875.

Old
Altus was located about a quarter mile east
of where it is today and was the terminus for
the railroad for about a year. Mr. Nichols
laid out Altus and offered the Railroad an
alternate lot and a depot site 300' x 300' to
move the old town to where it is today. The
place is laid out in four streets about the
depot as a square. The last train went
through Altus May 15, 1936. The depot still
stands today. It is used for a community
center.

Among those early settlers of the area
were Jimmy Crusen: he had the Crusin Horse
Mill, the only mill in east Franklin county.

William Hellens and Marcus Hogan for whom Hogan
Township was named. He served as Justice of
the Peace performing the first marriage
recorded in this area. He married Robert
Skidmore and Elizabeth Gold (Gould) September
7, 1849. U. J. Nichols built the first house
in 1875; Mr. Nichols built the first Mill and
Gin in 1887. This house was later occupied by
D. Fains' Drug store.

March 18, 1918 a tornado struck the town
demolishing two stores and three residences.
The buildings were replaced during the summer
of 1918. July 10, 1922 a disastrous fire
swept the business district completely
burning four stores and damaging five others.
The work of rebuilding was slow, completed
about 1929.

1927-28 a building boom hit Altus. J. H. Jacobson, a Chicago millionaire bought up
seven farms on Pond Creek Mountain north of
Altus for the purpose of building summer
cabins for his wealthy Chicago friends. A
group was formed of Altus citizens with
Jacobson as leader for the purpose of
building a swimming pool, bridle path and
landscaping the mountainside. Before the
proposed work was completed the depression of
1929 hit financially ruining Jacobson and his
friends. The population was 709 at that time.

About 1910 Altus had an Icehouse. You could buy ice
by the pound but you had to go after it,
delivery of ice did not begin until about
1930. It also had a central telephone office.
Fred Burrow was the banker, Bud Rowe was the
Gazette correspondent.

Altus
was the birth place of a talented author and
writer: Mrs. Janice Holt Giles. She was born
at the home of her grandfather Dave McGraw.
Her parent moved to eastern Oklahoma when she
was four however, she spent many summers with
her grandparents. She wrote many books some
of which are "The Plum Thicket,"
"40 Acres and No Mule," "Run
Me a River" and many more.

Central Collegiate Institute was among the first
colleges in Northwestern, Arkansas. It was
founded by Reverend Isham L. Burrow (a
Methodist Minister) October 31, 1876.

It was
successful two boarding houses were built for
the accommodation of the increasing student
body, a larger school was built. The plans
called for a three-story building with a
tower, which was to rise seven stories in
height. The college was purchased from Rev.
Burrow and renamed Hendrix College, in honor
of Bishop Hendrix of Kansas City. 1890 moved
it to Conway, AR at that time the property
reverted to Rev. Burrow.

He was determined
that the college in Altus should continue, he
opened a college in the fall of 1890 naming
it Hiram & Lydia College in honor of his
father and mother. After 16 years of success
Rev. Burrow decided to retire because of his
age. He sold the school buildings to the
Altus School District and the boarding houses
were sold to private citizens. On the night of Feb. 5, 1909 a bolt of lightening hit the third floor of the
school building setting fire to the structure and it was completely destroyed.

Most of the coal
mines were not in Altus but they were very
important to the economy as many families
made their living from them. Mining in the
area was from 1873-1940. Many of the miners
would work the mines by night and farm by
day, many walking for miles to go to work.

The Altus part of the field is known as the low
coal field: veins vary from 16 to 24 inches
in this part of the field. Low coal mines in
this area were the Black Diamond in 1923,
Lewis in 1924, The Flying Dutchman in 1930
and the Smith mine in 1931. Altus local 2121 was organized in 1934.

Newspapers: C. H. Gregorys Agriculture paper, The Altus
Albion by R. C. Hill founded 1883 then Prof.
I. L. Burrow 1850, then Mr. Burnett, E. M.
Dewey and W. L. Jameson. B. M. Burrow then
owned it, later rented it to D.M. McGraw. On
May 17, 1888 G. W. Austin leased it calling
the Altus Advance, it continued until 1894.
H. T. Hampton it was published until 1899
founded the Altus Sun in 1896. The Altus
Banner was organized in 1917 by Miss Sultana
Higgins and was published until 1920.

The first grapes grown in the county were in
Altus. They have been an important part of
the Altus areas. German and Swiss settlers on
Pond Creek Mountain north of town started the
vineyards in 1881. Jacob Post SR set out the
first vineyard in 1881. Many of the
immigrants in Altus came from winemaking
regions and transferred their talents to
their new homes. Altus soon became famous for
its good wine. There are still four wineries
in the area: Wiederkehr, Post, Mount Bethel
and Sax Winery. Some of the wines from this
area are known worldwide.

Churches: Altus Missionary Baptist Church was organized
July 1887 by elders: J. M. Lawrence, A. S.
Pettie and R. M. Small. Altus Methodist
Episcopal Church South was organized in 1875
by Rev. C. H. Gregory; it burned in 1951 was
built back in 1952. The Christian Church
organized July 1888 by F. B. Sirgley. Was
disbanded in 1920. Altus Pentecostal church
has been active in Altus for 50+ years.
Father Beatus Maria Ziswyler organized Altus
Catholic Church November 21, 1879. This
church is built of native stone that came
from the hill it sets on. It is on the
historical register, is visited by thousands
of tourists yearly.

Dr. E.W. Pillstrom opened Altus first and only
hospital in 1944. Was open until his death in
1956. At that time Mrs. Pillstrom opened the
Pillstrom nursing home which remained in
operation until 1978.

The German American Bank of Altus was established
in the early 1900's. The officers were as
follows: H. L. Hembery President, J.J. Sax
Vice President, Rev. Palcidus Vice President,
J.N. Adams Cashier, Directors: A. Buergler,
M. Musgrove, Jacob Post, J.J. Sax and N.J.
Adams. It became the bank of Altus around the
time war broke out. In May 1918 its doors
closed. This building has been many things including a
Post Office. Now it is the Altus Heritage
Museum open operated by volunteers. Always
open during special city events.